Solar Attic Fan

The Solar Attic Fan is an inexpensive way to use solar energy in your life, which helps to exhaust hot air from your attic. Powered wholly by free solar energy, this sleek and competent vent is both compact and quiet. Installed on a rooftop or in an end-wall or gable, solar attic fans operate each time there’s sunlight striking the solar module. Fully operational right from the box, it installs effortlessly, without electrical wiring, no expensive electrician and city permits. Most important feature is a single 10 watt unit can completely vent up to 1,200 square feet, operating at up to 850 cfms. Place it anywhere you need better circulation; attics, lofts, workshops, storage sheds, garages, even barns.

Solar Attic Fan provides attic venting which is an important aspect in maintaining a healthy energy efficient home. Proper venting cools your roof which not only extends the material life but also reduces the load on your air conditioning system. Attic venting also increases fresh air flow which reduces moisture build up produced by every day activities like showering and cooking.

Excess moisture trapped in your attic can cause many problems like rust and rot, increased bacteria and mold counts which can have a direct impact on your respiratory health. Solar attic fans simply change the grid energy source with free solar energy. They run when the sun is shining and adding heat to your house. They can be installed wherever unobstructed sunlight is available for their solar modules.

How Solar Attic Fan Work:

An electric fan to cool off an attic space is not a new concept. Many households use fans to drive out excess heat that builds up under the roof. These fans are typically connected to household AC power using thermostatic switch. The principle behind this is simple as air trapped under roof becomes very hot. By conduction, that heat passes into the rooms through their ceilings, resulting in increase of the temperature of the house. This in turn resulted in an increased use of air conditioning. By exhausting hot air from the attic space, attic fans trims down the need for air conditioning, saving money and energy in the process.

Benefits of Solar Attic Fan:

Lowers attic temperature:

Solar Attic Fans lowers attic temperature which results in reducing the load on the HVAC System. The most important reason for attic ventilation is to lower attic space temperature in the warmer months. Attic area can get very hot during summer days. Proper attic ventilation can help in reducing the temperature. Regardless of how much insulation is in the attic, heat can even then transfer into adjacent living spaces. Actually, extra insulation can add to temperature as heat is trapped in the insulation. Proper ventilation removes this excess heat build-up and hence helps in reducing the work load of the air conditioning system, thereby saving energy.

Prevents ice blocking in colder climates:

Heavy snowfall can generate ice wall that cause a roof to leak along the attic. Wintertime ventilation can help to avoid moisture build-up in the attic space which can dampen insulation, reducing its effectiveness, or contribute to mold growth, peeling paint or flaking plaster. Moreover, the heavy weight of the ice that fills the rain gutters can rip off the gutters. The best way to prevent this is through proper attic ventilation.

Extends the life of the roofing materials:

In the cooler months, moisture is the main concern. In spite of using vapor barriers to keep moisture from entering the attic, there are air leaks in the region of ceiling light fixtures, bathroom exhaust fans which allows unwanted moisture into the attic. Moisture condensing on the roof deck can lead to the growth of mold, mildew and rot in the roof deck and framing.

Attic ventilation evacuates the warm moist air that heat sources produce. Hot moist air enduring in the attic spaces can condense on the roof sheathing and rot it out and can also cause mold to build up on the interior walls.

Why to opt Solar Attic Fans:

• Because solar attic fans cost nothing to operate, and are more affordable to operate than conventional powered attic fans.
• By reducing attic temperature, attic fans helps to reduce summertime cooling loads at the same time provides ventilation without added utility load.
• Solar attic fans are easy to install and doesn’t have any wires hence eliminates the need for an electrician. You can easily install it using conventional materials, tools, and techniques
• Reduces cooling load on AC units
• Operates on free solar energy
• Adjustable solar panel

Facts:

Retail prices range from about $350 to $600 depending on ventilation capacity, manufacturer, and optional features of the unit, such as a thermostat.[#1]

Solar powered fans are fueled by the sun, so there is no cost of operation.

One Response to “Solar Attic Fan”

Excellent article. A solar attic fan is the easiest way to start using solar in your home. I have specified these fans on many of the buildings I design which have attic spaces. They are worry free and so easy to install, even easier that powered units which use electricity.